Improve Curb Appeal Before Selling Your House

How to Improve Exterior Curb Appeal Whether you’re trying to sell your home or appeal to new renters in 2019, improving your curb appeal should be on the top of your list of priorities. After all, the facade of your house is the first thing a buyer will see, so setting the tone for the rest of your visit.

Understanding how to improve the curb appeal to buyers of all ages will give you the largest bang for your buck when it comes time to sell.

It’s estimated that 43 million Americans will make a big move each year. To appeal to these buyers and renters, regardless of age, try these following tips and tricks to make your humble abode someone’s new home.

Touch up with paint

You would be surprised how long a fresh coat of paint will go, even if there are no obvious defects on your home’s siding. Over time, dirt, debris, and sun damage will take a toll on the exterior of your home. You might not see any obvious signs of wear and tear, and your potential buyers might not notice either. However, you can count on everyone noticing a fresh coat of paint.

While there are certain improvements that can bring down your house value, neutral paint is never one of them. Painting is in fact one of the very best home improvements you can make.

A new layer of paint simply stands out compared to the other homes or rental units on the block. Try slapping a layer of fresh, white paint on your home’s siding and offer a contrast with a deeper shade, like navy or burgundy, for the shutters lining your windows.

This will exude a clean, inviting atmosphere for only a little effort on your part. You should also consider painting the front door and replacing any obvious tarnishing regarding hardware, including door handles, windows, and the like.

It isn’t just the front of the house you should paint — there’s a reason why Huckleberry Finn was tasked with painting fences. Fresh paint makes every aspect of your home look well-kept, fresh, and inviting. Painting or glossing your wooden or vinyl fences will help establish a great atmosphere as soon as your potential buyer pulls up to your house.

Don’t be afraid to repaint your mailbox and garage, too, in order to create a cohesive, inviting look. No matter the age of your potential buyers, a fresh appearance will appeal to just about anyone.

Light their way

A dark house might look alluring and mysterious in the movies, but a well-lit house is essential if you want to attract potential buyers, regardless of age.

This is because a dark home makes it feel like there’s a threat around every corner. This is especially worrisome if you’re moving into a new neighborhood, or worse: into a new state. The unfamiliar isn’t welcome among home buyers.

As a seller, it’s your job to make your renter feel at-home from the start, and that means ramping up the security. The easiest — and cheapest — way to promote the security of your home is by keeping it well lit.

This includes a sconce at the front door, a motion detector light in the backyard, and small solar-powered lights lining the walkway to the front door. With all these lights permeating the darkness, you’ll simply be rolling out the (brightly lit) red carpet for potential buyers.

Lighting is a great way to increase your property value among other things.

Landscape to perfection

Landscaping is a great option for landlords and folks trying to sell their home who don’t want to break the bank. You’d be surprised at how much better your lawn looks with a simple run of the lawn mower and edging along the sidewalk. Clean up any debris amidst your shrubberies and fence line to give yourself a clean slate to work with.

Once those basics are out of the way, you can get creative. Landscaping deals with the living components of your home’s exterior, but it also pertains to the non-living factors, including walkways, retaining walls, decks, and water features.

Though installing a pond may be a little more expensive than you’d like, you can always supplement a water feature with a simple fountain. A retaining wall can work wonders to provide dimension in an otherwise boring space. Choose bricks that accent the colors on your house to establish a cohesive environment.

There are plenty of affordable, easy-to-maintain plants and shrubs you can grow that look great with minimal effort. For example, lavender requires little effort and is practically indestructible. It will not only make the outside of your home smell great, but it also looks beautiful when it’s featured along a walkway or deck.

You can get some additional landscape tips from Country Living.

The final touches

Now that you have officially jumped over the biggest hurdles regarding your home’s exterior, you can put on the finishing touches to enhance your curb appeal. This can take a variety of forms, but there are a few tried and true examples that will put you on the path to success.

Let’s start at the ground level. Your potential home buyer will look down as they navigate new terrain. You can have fun installing different cobbles and stones along a walkway or adorn flower beds with fun statues or outdoor features.

An inviting welcome mat speaks volumes without saying anything at all. It infers that you care about the cleanliness of the inside of your home and have worked hard to maintain its integrity. Plus, with the number of customizable welcome mats out there, you can apply a little personal flair.

There are other simple ways to break up a simple space. Window boxes with beautiful flowers can help break up a flat exterior, thereby adding dimension and beauty to prevent the facade from looking boring wall. Installing a new sign displaying your house number with easy-to-read features will make your home seem modern and appealing to renters of all ages.

You can even make your own numbers with wooden plaques and painted numbers, though there are plenty of carved options that can stand out against the grain of your home.

When you want to appeal to homeowners of all ages, try to create an environment that is welcoming. While older folks may love the look of a cozy cottage and younger people hope for a modern look, using these home helping hacks will prevent the need for a complete overhaul of your home’s exterior.

Curb appeal is one of the first things your potential homeowner will notice when they pull into the driveway. Make your home memorable and welcoming before they arrive.

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Fred Craig Author Bio: J.H. Craig started a commodities hauling business in 1918, hauling cattle, feed, and hay from the rural farms of Virginia to the urban markets of the DC area. In the 1940′s, the area started evolving from farmland to residential communities. We had to change with the times, so we began moving people into their homes after hours and in our spare time. Our great grandfather, Dick and his brothers: Earl, Jim, and Bob decided to go full time. In the 1980′s we expanded our local moving business to the reaches of Maine and Florida and as far west as the Mississippi River.

Still family owned and operated, we provided quality moving services across the US. Our commitment to your personalized services for residential and commercial relocation is unmatched in the industry. Let us handle your next move.”